The Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL) hopes to play a bigger role in the rapidly growing sport of pickleball in the Philippines, with Season 2 kicking off on Saturday, Oct. 24, at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor City, Cavite.
With a strong mix of Filipino and international players on the rosters of its eight participating teams, the league aims to provide local talents with regular competition and consistent exposure to different playing styles as pickleball continues to gain popularity in the country.
PYCL commissioner John Regison Talusan said the second season will focus on raising the level of competition while giving Filipino players more opportunities to learn from their international counterparts.
“Season 2 is about raising the level of competition. We want our Filipino players to be tested by international athletes, different playing styles and different competitive backgrounds, while giving overseas players a chance to experience the energy and talent of Philippine pickleball,” said Talusan.
Season 2 will run until Nov. 27, with matches scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
The league also hopes to strengthen the exchange between local and foreign players, allowing both sides to gain valuable experience in a competitive environment.
Among the featured players this season are Filipino-British Mikar Fisher and Filipina-Australian Crystal Mildwaters, who will join international players Amore Cook, Cody Temple and Nico Almeida in the tournament.
Also worth watching is local ace Bien Zoleta-Manalac, who helped power the Philippine soft tennis team to a historic bronze medal in the women’s event at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, just a month ago.
The eight franchises competing for the Season 2 title are the Thrifty Drivers, Dentacare Pearly Whites, Cartivo Movers, Konjac Zero Phoenix Force, GFOXX Paragon, Black Mamba Aces, Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, and DreamSkin Radiants.
Talusan expressed confidence that Season 2 would generate greater interest among pickleball enthusiasts of all ages. With all eight teams stepping up their preparations, the league also expects the new season to surpass the success of its inaugural edition.
Backing the event are NEXXGEN, BT Sports Apparel, UET International Corp., Healthy & Pure Brand, Million Glow by Kimsdiary, Immuni, Salonpas, Filmore Apartments, Fortun & Santos Law Offices, Les Alajeras Jewelry, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center, GrabKa Sports Center, i-fern, Luigi Reyes, Red Planet Hotels and Robinsons Movieworld.
PYCL Season 2 media partners include GMA News TV, SPOTV, Prime TV, Nudge Sports, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, Favorite Music Radio and TrillerTV.
Together, these media partners will help extend PYCL’s reach across television, digital platforms, streaming and radio, with GMA and SPOTV helping bring the league to audiences beyond the Philippines.
